Sight words for Australian kids: the high-frequency list
These are the words Australian children use most in their own writing — drawn from the Oxford Wordlist, the evidence-based high-frequency list developed in Australian classrooms. Master these and everyday reading and writing get dramatically easier.
Practise a few each day rather than the whole list at once. Hearing each word read aloud, then writing it, is the fastest route to automatic recall — and it's exactly how Thinkaroo's free dictation practice works.
Practise these words free — no signup needed
Hear each word read aloud in an Australian accent, or turn the list into a game.
Try free dictation practice Play a spelling game Start freeThe sight word list
- about
- after
- again
- always
- another
- around
- asked
- away
- because
- before
- began
- behind
- being
- between
- both
- brought
- called
- change
- children
- coming
- could
- different
- does
- during
- earth
- enough
- every
- example
- family
- father
- first
- follow
- found
- friend
- great
- group
- heard
- high
- important
- inside
- keep
- knew
- large
- later
- learn
- light
- might
- money
- morning
- mother
Words in sentences
Hearing a word in context makes it far easier to remember. A few examples from the list:
about — Tell me about your day.
after — We play after school.
again — Can we do it again?
always — She always helps her friends.
another — Can I have another go?
around — We walked around the park.
asked — She asked a question.
away — The bird flew away.
Frequently asked questions
What are sight words?
Sight words (also called high-frequency words) are the words children see most often in reading and writing — words like 'because', 'their' and 'again'. Many don't follow regular spelling patterns, so children learn to recognise and spell them on sight.
What is the Oxford Wordlist?
The Oxford Wordlist is Australia's evidence-based list of the most frequently used words in young children's writing, developed from research in Australian classrooms. It's the foundation most Australian schools use for high-frequency word practice.
How can my child practise sight words for free?
Thinkaroo reads each word aloud in an Australian accent for free dictation practice, and there are free word games your child can play right now — no account needed.
Practise these words free — no signup needed
Hear each word read aloud in an Australian accent, or turn the list into a game.
Try free dictation practice Play a spelling game Start free